ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment 2025
Geneva, Switzerland | June 18, 2025
Key Documents
The Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (Call to Action), led by Norway, convened a strategic consultation on 18 June 2025 in Geneva, at the margins of the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment. The meeting brought together partners from states and donors, international organisations, and NGOs to reflect on the implications of ongoing humanitarian reform and to reinforce the prioritisation of GBV prevention and response within the humanitarian system.
Context and Purpose
The consultation took place in the context of the ongoing “humanitarian reset”, marked by:
Structural reforms in the humanitarian system
Increasing needs and limited resources
Risks of deprioritising protection, including GBV
Participants highlighted the importance of ensuring that GBV prevention, response, and gender equality remain central to humanitarian action during this period of change.
Key Themes and Discussions
Maintaining GBV as a Humanitarian Priority
Participants reaffirmed that:
GBV prevention and response are life-saving and non-negotiable
Protection must remain at the core of humanitarian response
Greater clarity is needed on how commitments are translated into operational action
The discussion reflected concern that recent high-level processes had not yet resulted in concrete implementation measures.
Role of Women-Led Organisations
Women-led organisations (WLOs) were recognised as essential actors in GBV response:
WLOs provide frontline services and community-based support
Barriers remain in accessing direct, flexible, and multi-year funding
Participants called for stronger inclusion in decision-making and coordination
The importance of removing structural barriers and strengthening localisation efforts was emphasised.
Funding, Advocacy, and Accountability
Key discussions focused on:
Addressing funding gaps and exploring more flexible financing models
Strengthening collective advocacy and political engagement
Improving accountability across leadership, policy, and programming
Participants highlighted the need to better use existing tools and frameworks, including the GBV Accountability Framework, to support implementation.
Coordination and System-Wide Action
Participants emphasised:
The importance of preserving inclusive coordination mechanisms
Strengthening collaboration across stakeholders and sectors
Ensuring that GBV and gender equality are integrated across humanitarian responses
Key Priorities and Next Steps
Participants identified several forward-looking priorities:
Strengthening high-level advocacy and political engagement through the CtA platform
Informing the development of the next Call to Action Road Map
Protecting and reinforcing coordination spaces that support GBV priorities
Aligning GBV and gender equality efforts across sectors and actors
These actions aim to ensure that GBV remains central within the evolving humanitarian system.
Summary
The consultation reaffirmed the Call to Action’s role as a key platform for collective advocacy and accountability. It highlighted the urgency of ensuring that GBV prevention and response are not sidelined in humanitarian reform processes, and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration, political will, and support to women-led organisations.